Suttner family, friends bring holiday joy to Lake Country seniors

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John Suttner huddles with his family to award top costume honors based on audience applause during a seniors Christmas luncheon he and his family hosts at the YMCA at Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc on Dec. 19. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

John Suttner struggles with awarding top costume honors based on audience applause during a seniors Christmas luncheon he and his family hosts at the YMCA at Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc on Dec. 19. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

Rusty "Adams" Nowak heads back to his seat after going through the serving line during a seniors Christmas luncheon he and his family hosts at the YMCA at Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc on Dec. 19. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

The Suttners got the idea from Denyse’s work as an instructor at the Y.

“She had some senior aerobics classes and things like that and, one year, she said to me ‘Maybe we should do a little party for Christmas,’” John said.

And so, in 2009, the Suttners hosted 20 local seniors and not only served them lunch, but also brought gifts for each of their guests.

Word quickly got out that there was a new way to spread and enjoy warmth in the midst of the cold Wisconsin winter, and the next year the Suttners found themselves serving more than twice as many people.

“All of a sudden there were 50 people, and now we’re at about 150,” John said. “But we still do a wrapped present for each person.”

The Suttners count both family and friends as helping hands that make the event possible each year. In addition to their son and daughter acting as co-hosts, they also pointed to friends Brian Gellatly, Jim Rudek, Mike Radanke and Richard Reinert as being instrumental in making all the gears turn.

“My daughter, who is 15, she wrapped most of the presents so far this year. I thank her for that because, when I wrap them, it looks like I wrapped them,” John said.

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John Suttner huddles with his family to award top costume honors based on audience applause during a seniors Christmas luncheon he and his family hosted at the YMCA at Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc on Dec. 19.(Photo: C.T. Kruger/Now News Group)

While a free meal among friendly faces might be plenty enough reason to celebrate, the luncheon’s individually wrapped gifts make the afternoon particularly special.

“One thing I’ve realized throughout the years is that we might be the only place that some of these seniors have to go for Christmas. They may have lost their families, or their families may have moved away,” John said. “An older lady came over to me and gave me a hug and said ‘I haven’t unwrapped a present in five years.’”

For the luncheon’s 10th anniversary, the Suttners and their friends went all out, including servers dressed up in tuxedos and a prime rib meal cooked up at the Cornerstone Sports Pub & Grill, where John is a co-owner.

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The Suttner family served more than 100 people at a seniors Christmas luncheon Dec. 19 at the YMCA at Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc.(Photo: C.T. Kruger/Now News Group)

Suttner estimated that between the gifts and the food, the luncheon costs between $3,500 to $5,000 per year, although this year reached closer to $7,000.

“Life gets so busy, and we forget that we wouldn’t have what we have today if it wasn’t for the generation before us,” John said. “We’ve got to pay it back and pay it forward.”

In addition to the regular festivities, many of the luncheon’s repeated guests have gotten involved themselves with contributions such as making centerpieces for the tables or knitting coasters.

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